Translated with AI
Putin rejected European demands for a ceasefire, but at the same time tried to create the appearance of a constructive position for the Trump administration.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky made a "diplomatic gambit" by offering to meet Vladimir Putin in person for peace talks in Istanbul on Thursday. According to The Guardian , he has seized the initiative from Putin and is now putting pressure on him.
As the publication recalls, the demand for a 30-day ceasefire was put forward on Saturday during a visit to Kyiv by the leaders of Great Britain, France, Germany and Poland. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said that if Putin rejects the offer, sanctions will be strengthened and military aid for Ukraine's defense will be increased to force Russia to return to the negotiating table.
In response, Putin accused Ukraine of violating previous ceasefire agreements but said that "despite this" he was proposing that the two sides meet for talks, which he said could take place in Istanbul this Thursday.
As The Guardian notes, Putin's tone was clearly carefully calibrated to reject Europe's demands but also to create the appearance of Moscow's constructive position in the eyes of the Trump administration, which until recently had been much softer toward Moscow than Kyiv. Putin specifically thanked the new US administration for its efforts to resolve the conflict:
"Trump's response suggests the tactic may have succeeded, dealing a significant blow to Western unity. But his post on Truth Social also hinted at the frustration he has reportedly been expressing privately in recent days over Moscow's tough demands in the war in Ukraine."
At the same time, by proposing a direct meeting with Putin in Istanbul, Zelensky seized the initiative and is now putting pressure on the Russian dictator – who rarely travels spontaneously.
Ceasefire negotiations
As UNIAN wrote, yesterday, May 10, Volodymyr Zelensky, together with European leaders , voiced an ultimatum to Putin : either Russia agrees to a comprehensive, unconditional ceasefire from Monday, or it will face a new package of sanctions from Europe and America.
The Russian dictator then made a statement that avoided directly answering whether Russia would agree to a ceasefire, but offered to start direct peace talks with Ukraine in Turkey. Donald Trump responded on social media, saying that Ukraine should immediately agree to talks with Russia in Turkey.
Zelensky responded by saying that he would arrive in Turkey on Thursday and hoped that Putin would also come for the talks.
